The Portland daily press., 1887-03-21
the sUF RSto HOTEL FIRE.
Lb...
Seven Persons KnS, Se Been
Burned to Deas.
The Thrilling Experience of Two In.
surance Men.

BUFFALO, N. Y, March 19.-Louis Zend.
man of New York was one of the many who
had narrow escapes from the burning hotel
yesterday. He was assigned to room 125 on
the fourth floor Of the Eagle street side. His
mode OF escape was perilous and very thrill
ing. Mr.. Zendmen says he is positive there
were seven persons in the room when he left
1t, and all he saw escape were one man and
one woman. 1t is his belief that the others
lost their lives. The ruins of the Richmond
presented dismal spectacle this morning,
and crowds continue to gather in the vicini-
t.. The fremen were still engaged in wet
ting down the ruins, preparatory to making
a search for bodies known to be somewhere
under the debris. The search will be COM
nenced to-day. At 11.15 o'clock this morn
ing the body of a man was found in the
ruins near the south wall. The body was
burned beyond recognition. Three of the
four persons taken to the Sisters of Charity
Hospital yesterday are in very precarious
condition. They are Misses Mary Nolan,
girls employed at the Richmond. Their in
juries are frightful. George +. Michaels is
doing we'll to-day. Clinton Bidwell, who is
at the General Hospital, had a bad night,
but is easier to-day. Dr. E. II. Norton, the
attending surgeon at the Fitch Hospital, said
this morning that all the injured persons
under his care were doing we'll as could be
expected. He thinks they will all recover
A few of the patients at the Emergency Hos
pital were taken to their homes to-day by
their friends. Henry D. Rumsey of New
York, who died in the Fitch Hospital this
morning was 42 years old. and was connect
ed with the United States navy The de-
ceased lost his life by going hack 30 rescue
the little daughter of Mrs. Mann. He heard
her screams and put her inside of his shirt
to protect her from the fire. Coroner Ken
ney has impanelled a jury of representative
citizens and business men, and says he will
endeavor to have a thorough investigation.
Little Jennie Mann, daughter of one
of the proprietors of the hotel, in rescu-
ing whom Mr.. III. B. Rumsey, of New York,
sacrificed his own life, was reported very low
this morning, and it is feared she cannot re-
cover. The body of the man found in the
ruins this morning is thought to be that of
Hiram Benedict, Jr., of Lockport. His
father has been telegraphed for.
A largely attended meeting of representa-
tive citizens was held at the Merchants ex-
change this afternoon to take action in favor
of the removal of all electric wires from the
streets and placing them underground. The
meeting grew out of the experiences of the
fire department at the recent great fires, es-
pecially with the icables strung by tele-
phone company; resolution was adopted
declaring it the sense of the meeting that the
telephone company be requested to move
their cables before Monday next at noon,
and il they fail to do SO then the proper an
thOrltieS are requested to move them forth
with.
ALBANY, n. Y, March ia reporter
visited MeSsrs. Willard Welch, insurance
adluster. and Elihu II. Smith, travelling
salesman fer Larrabee & Co., this morning.
These gentlemen were guests at the ill-fated
Richmond Hotel in Buffalo, and reached
home early this morning. Mr.. Welch says:
II was awakened by the ringing of the cleo
tflr he'll in and hocfilv
trousers and shoes. l then opened the door
OF my room, and as / did so flames rushed in.
l slammed the door Shut and reflected sec
ond. Ihat time convinced me that desper
ate measures were necessary. Fire had now
burned through my bath room door and was
licking up the bed and furnishings | threw
my window up and knew it was my only
salvation. The flames followed me with the
draught, singed my shair and blistered my
face. Thoughtfully !. put the window down
and then hung from the sill OF window on
the fourth floor. A ladder was put up to me-
and got safely to the ground, and ran to
the lift House. My oyercoat trousers and
shoes are the only articles / saved. If the
electric bell had not rung would have per
lshed, sure. lnever want to sleep in hotel
again."
Mr.. Smith occupied a room just beneath |
Mr.. Welch on the third floor. He says: Il |
went to bed about 10 o'clock. | came from
Toledo and had not had much sleep for a |
week Had it not been for the electric bells |
all would have perlshed l was awakened /
by them. had left an order to be called at |
? o'clock and it being still very dark knew |
the bell was not to call me up. At first l |
it a mistake, but was jumping up |
when heard banging on my door and on |
on opening it found Mr.. Woods of Chicago, |
who was looking for friend. He told me |
that the house was on fire and to close my |
door quickly. Ileft and followed the balus- |
ters to the next story, desiring to get as near
the ground as possible. In room 90 here |
were a lot of gentlemen. They had broken |
out the glass, and l, being in my bare feet,
called them to throw me pillow. They did /
so and put on my trousers. | must have
lost the rest of my clothes in my descent.
The, court was now seething mass of |
smoke and flame women yelled and scream
ed. A ladder was put up to rescue Mr.
Welch, and sprans and caught it on the
under side. In my bare feet / ran to the
lift House, where bought pair of shoes
from porter, and borrowed coat frem |
George +. Briare. who is the steward in the |
Tiff House. then went back to the burn |
ing building, and saw the flames roaring out |
OF my window and destroying my effects.